Knockdown barbecue oven



J. L. EASTEP KNOCKDOWN BARBECUE OVEN Jan. 12, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1949 W I Q w V ZSnventor c/a/mas Zea/9r {Evade a (Ittornegs J. L. EASTEP KNOCKDOWN BARBECUE OVEN Jan. 12, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2, 1949 3nneutor James Zea/e 3727 (Ittornegs Jan. 12, 1954 J. L. EASTEP 'KNOCKDOWN BARBECUE OVEN 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 2, 1949 A Summer (/4014? [Pa/er [2192 attorneys Patentecl Jan. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNOCKDOWN BARBECUE OVEN James Lester Eastep, Kansas City, Mo.

Application December 2, 1949, Serial No. 130,699

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to portable barbecue ovens, and particularly to ovens of this character of knock-down type which may be transported in a vehicle or the like and set up for use and also for storage in a compact condition.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an oven of this character wherein pressure is applied to the food in the oven while being cooked.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a fire pot section adapted to be housed within the oven section for transportation and storage; to provide a removable grill and food racks in the oven section above the fire pot section and storage of the grill and the racks Within the fire pot section when nested within the oven section; to provide bafile means in said oven section; to provide an opening in the oven section and a cover for said opening having a passage way for directin the smoke downwardly from the oven section thereby retaining the heat under pressure within the oven section; to provide an automatic draft regulator for the fire pot section, and to provide a device of this character, simple, economical to manufacture and efficient in operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention drawn in assembled relation.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my invention showing the parts in disassembled relation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through the device taken on a line 3--3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section of the invention taken on a line 44, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the upper rear portion of the device, particularly showing the temperature regulator attached thereto.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the leg supports and means for attaching the same to the fire pot section.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention with parts broken away to better illustrate the interior thereof.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the invention shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view particularly illustrating the draft regulator on the fire pot.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a barbecue oven embodying the features of my invention comprising a housing consisting of a fire pot section 2 and oven section 3, preferably made of sheet metal or the like. The fire pot section 2 and oven are substantially square in shape although other shapes maybe used without departing from the spirit of my invention. The fire pot section is slightly smaller than the oven section so that it may be housed within the oven section when not in use as later described.

The fire pot section has sides 4 and 5, front 8, rear I and bottom 3. The bottom is turned upwardly over the lower end of the fire pot section forming a flange 9 therearound. Legs l U are provided at each corner of the fire pot section and consist of a trough like structure comprising sides II and I2 and ends l3 and I4. The end I4 is slotted down the sides II and I2 as indicated at I5 forming a lip I6 adapted to engage in a keeper l1 secured to the bottom 8 by welding or other suitable manner.

The side 4 has an opening 18 to the fire pot and a door 19 is hingedly connected to the side 4 as is the usual practice. A flange 8 of the bottom is turned downwardly as indicated at 2|] so that ashes or the like may be raked from the fire pot, also as is the usua1 practice. A grate 2| is provided for the interior of the fire pot section and has legs 22 engaging the bottom 8 of the fire pot. The grate is rounded and has sides 23 extending upwardly towards the front and back of the fire pot. It also has a plurality of openings 24 to increase the draft through the fuel thus providing better combustion thereof and also to allow ashes to sift through to the bottom of the fire pot. The upper periphery of the fire pot 2 is provided with an outwardly offset shoulder 25 and an upwardly extending flange 26 within which is adapted to be nested the lower edge .21 of the oven section 3. The oven section comprises a front 28, sides 29 and 30, a back 3| and top 32, the top having its edges turned downwardly forming a flange which may be secured to the top of the oven section in any suitable manner such as welding or the like.

The front 28 is provided with an opening 33 to provide access to the interior of the oven. A cover member 34 is provided for the openings 33 and is hingedly connected to the sides 29 adjacent the opening 33 of the oven as indicated at 35. The door or cover 34 has a front portion 36 and sides 31 and 31'. The bottom edge of the front side 36 is turned inwardly forming a flange 38 and a space 39 between the bottom of the cover member and the housing for a purpose later described. The cover is provided with a top 40, en-

gaging over the top 32 of the oven section and has its rear edge turned upwardly as indicated at 4| to provide rigidity to the cover structure. The top 32 is provided with a struck down portion to form a recess 42 and the top 40 of the cover is provided with a struck down portion forming a boss 43 engaging in the recess 42 to retain the cover member in closed position by friction of the top 40 with the top 32 of the oven section. The front side 36 of the door is provided with a handle 44.

The upper edge of the front 28 of the oven section is turned inwardly forming a flange 45 to provide rigidity to the oven structure and therespective sides 29 and 3d of the oven section are provided with spaced side rails it and 4? to provide support for meat racks" or the like 48 and 49. Adapted to be supported on the lower rails 61' underneath the rack 59 is a grill member as substantially having a bottom and side portions 52 and 53, side portions being turned outwardly to form flanges Edand 55 to engage the side rails 41. When the grill 5% is inserted in the oven section, it is of a width to provide a space 56 between thefront end and the front wall 28 of the oven section as best illustrated in Fig. 3. Secured to the rear bottom edge of the grill 59 is a lug 5i adapted to engage the rear wall 31 of the oven section to hold the grill away from the back 3! to provide a space 58 between the grill and the back wall for a purpose later described, the lug 5? being secured to the bottom of the grill by welding or the like. The rails =56 and 4'? are formed of sheet metal to provide an upstanding flange 46 and a shelf M to prevent sliding lateral 6B in any suitable manner whereby it becomes an integral part of shaft 60. The shaft to is bent at right angles to provide an arm 84 which is pivotally attached to .a rod 64' extending downiw'ardly along thefback of the housing and is pivotallysecur'e'd' to an car 65 on a draft regulator 66 pivotal-1y secured to the lower edge of the fire pot section as indicated at 61 (Fig. 3) The draft re ulator's adapted to cover an openingtfi of a duct 69 secured to the underneath side of the bottom 8 of the fire pot section over an opening it in said bottom to' provide a draft to the fire pot section to facilitate burning of the fuel therein.

Operation of a device constructed and assembled as described'is as follows:

When the device is in assembledcondition as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, fire is kindled on the grate 2i and the food to be barbecued or cooked placed upon the racks 48 and 49 or either of them as desired. Heat from the fire passes up through the fire pot section into the ovensection and will heat the bottom 51 of the grill 5%. The grill to acts as a bafile and the heat and smoke will pass up through the spaces 56 and 58 at the respective ends of the grill and a rack 59 being perforated will contact the meat or other food products thereon. The meat or other food products is inserted through the door opening 3! in the front of the oven section and'the door covering 34 closed. The heat will riseto;-t he top of the oven section and striking against the top 32 will accumulate there. The only place for the heat and smoke to 4 move from the oven section is downwardly through the space 39 at the bottom of the door covering 34 as there is a tendency for the heated air to rise and the cooler air entering the space rising upwardly there will be a pressure of the heat upon the meat being cooked in the oven section, the smoke co-mingling with the meat to add flavor thereto while cooking. The smoke and heat will rise in the oven and be dissipated therefrom as indicated by the arrows Fig. 3. Temperature of the oven will be regulated by the automatic regulator in the top part of the oven through the bimetallic coil as above described, to raise and lower the draft regulator having communication with the duct at the bottom of the fire pot section. v

The bottom 5| of the grill 50 will act as a baffle of the heat and smoke as it rises through the oven section. The grill may be also utilized for cooking of food such as potatoes or the like by placing the same thereon underneath the rack 49. Juices from the meat or other food products thereabove will drop down onto the food products on the grill thereby seasoning the same.

In Figs. 7, 8, and 9, there is disclosed a modified form of the invention consisting of a fire pot section constructed the same as in the preferred form of the invention and the parts thereof are given like numbers with the exception that the draft regulator on the air duct leading to the bottom of the fire pot section has a hand regulator comprising a threaded opening it adapted to receive the threaded shank i2 of a hand screw '13 regulating the size of the opening and amount of air to enter the fire pot.

The oven section has its lower edge 15 adapted to nest in the fire pot section as in the preferred form of the invention. The oven section has a front :6, back H, and sides 78 and T9. The top part of the oven section is substantially rectangular in shape and the sides it and i9 are tapered downwardly and inwardly to form a lower edge to nest within the top of the fire pot section.

The sides it and 19 are provided with spaced side rails 80 and 8 l. Adapted to be mountedupon the side rails 82 Lisa grill and bailie member 82 of a width to provide spaces t3 and 84 on the respective sides of the oven structure, the bottom of the rear portion of the grill being provided with a lug $5 to retain the grill away from the front side "I6 and back side if as in the preferred form of the invention. The grill 82 has sloping sides as indicated at 86'and outturned flanges 81 to engage the side rails 81. Adapted to engage over the grill is a rack 38 also supported by the side rails Bi and a rack 89 is supported by the side rails 80 above the rack he so that meat to be prepared in the oven may be placed upon both racks 88 and. 89 and other food products such as potatoes or' the like, may also be prepared on the grill 82.

member til hingedly secured as at 9 i.

opened to allow access to racks. also provided with a handle 53.

The back ll of the oven section is provided with. an opening 94 and adapted to engage over the opening 34 is a closure member or cover 95 having:

atop 96 extending over the top 9| of the oven section'and provided withpins or the like adapted to engage in openings 91 in the top of the oven.

so that it may be removably secured to the top. Latch members 91" are provided on the sides 18 and 19 to hold the cover member in place. The lower end of the cover is inturned providing a flange 98 and a space 99 is provided between the flange and the back 11 for dispensing smoke from the oven. The back 11 adjacent the opening 94 is turned inwardly to form a flange I00 to provide rigidity to the structure.

A shelf or shoulder l0l is provided on the front 16 and sides '18 and 19 near the top of the oven to provide a support for the downturned flange I02 on the cover member to provide a substantially air tight structure between the cover member and the oven section so that the heat when arising in the oven will be retained therein to cook or prepare the meat under pressure as in the preferred form of the invention.

The side rails 80 and 8| are the same as in the preferred form of the invention and consist of a piece of strap iron bent upon itself to form an angle shaped portion I03 so that the flanges 88 and 89 will not move around in the oven. In the preferred form of the invention it is necessary to have the racks offset from the sides so that they may be inserted and removed through the door opening of the oven section.

Operation of the device shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, is substantially the same as in the preferred form of the invention except that in the modified form of the invention the draft is regulated by hand instead of automatically.

When it is desired to knock-down the device for transportation or storage, the legs are removed from the fire pot section, doors [9 and 34 removed, the grill and racks removed from the oven section and all stored in the fire pot section. The fire pot section telescopes within the oven section, the ends being reversed so that the lower end of the fire pot section will be inserted in the oven section.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improved portable knock-down barbecue oven whereby the meat will be cooked under pressure facilitating the cooking time thereof, and wherein the smoke from the fire will communicate with the meat to flavor the same. It will also be obvious that food may be cooked on the grill at the same time if desired, or it may be used separately as a grill.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable barbecue oven comprising, a housing including a fire pot section having an open top and an oven section having an open bottom removably mounted on the fire pot section and in communication therewith, said oven section having an opening in one side adjacent the upper end thereof providing access to said oven section, racks mountedin the upper portion of the oven section for supporting food to be cooked in position for access through said opening, a bafile in the oven section below the racks and having portions spaced from the sides thereof for passage of heat and smoke from the fire pot section into the oven section above the baffle, a cover having top, side and front walls, means removably mount ing the cover on the oven section of the housing with the top and side walls engaged with the oven section above and at the sides of said opening, said side and front walls of the cover extending substantially below said opening with the front wall spaced from the oven section and forming a downwardly opening passage therebetween, said passage being open to the atmosphere at the lower end thereof and having communication adjacent the upper end with said opening in the oven section, and means at the lower end of the cover restricting the downwardly opening passage whereby heat and smoke from the fire pot section will pass upwardly in the oven section around the baflle to cook the food supported on the racks and then outwardly through said opening in the oven section and downwardly through the passage and restricted lower end thereof which retards escape of smoke from the oven section and effects a back pressure therein and aids in retaining moisture in the food being cooked.

2. A portable barbecue oven comprising, a housing including a fire pot section having an open top and an oven section having an open bottom removably mounted on the fire pot section and in communication therewith, said oven section having an opening in one side adjacent the upper end thereof providing access to said oven section, racks mounted in the upper portion of the oven section for supporting food to be cooked in position for access through said opening, a battle in the oven section below the racks and having portions spaced from the sides thereof for passage of heat and smoke from the fire pot section into the oven section above the bafiie, a cover having top, side and front walls, means hingedly' mounting the cover on the oven section for engagement of the side walls with the oven section at the sides of the opening therein, said top wall of the cover extending over the top edge of the oven section, interengaging means on the oven section and cover top wall latching the cover to the oven section, said side and front walls of the cover extending substantially below the opening in the oven section with the front wall spaced from the oven section and forming a downwardly opening passage therebetween, said passage being open to the atmosphere at the lower end thereof and having communication adjacent the upper end with the opening in the oven section, and a flange on the lower end of the cover front wall and extending toward the oven section for restricting the downwardly opening passage whereby heat and smoke from the fire pot section will pass upwardly through the oven section around the bafile to cook the food supported on the racks and then outwardly through said opening in the oven section and downwardly through the pas sage and restricted lower end thereof which retards escape of smoke from the oven section and effects a back pressure therein and aids in retaining moisture in the food being cooked.

JAMES LESTER EASTER References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 986 Shaw May 29, 1860 209,332 Darling Oct. 29, 1878 231,068 MacAlpin Aug. 10, 1880 581,060 Chambers Apr. 20, 1897 594,993 Harry Dec. 7, 189"! 1,014,149 Helman Jan. 9, 1912 1,634,517 Rotstein July 5, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 131,572 Great Britain Aug. 28, 1919 569,905 France Apr. 19, 1924 567,676 Germany J an. 7, 1933 

